KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With the first day of preseason training right around the corner and opening day just 23 days away, the University of Hartford men's soccer team will kick off the 2015 season on a high note. The Hawks, who are receiving votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's (NSCAA) Preseason Rankings, enter the new campaign ranked among the nation's top-40 squads.

With nine starters and 18 total student-athletes returning to the pitch for fifth-year head coach Tom Poitras, the Hawks are poised to end an NCAA Tournament hiatus that has stretched 16 seasons. Last season, Hartford posted double-digit wins for the second-straight season after finishing with an 11-6-2 mark. The Hawks came one goal short of UMBC in the title match of the America East Championships in 2014.

Poitras brings back six America East All-Conference selections, including three First-Team picks in defender Jhamie Hyde, midfielder Rohan Roye, and forward Javoni Simms. In addition, three of the team's top scorers (Udi Cohen, Simms, and Jeff Tryon) make their return to the pitch after combining for 10 goals and 10 assists in 2014.

Also highlighting the list of returners is David MacKinnon, an America East All-Conference Second Team goalkeeper last season. With the help of his back line, which was anchored by Hyde, Blake Jones, and 2014 America East All-Rookie Team member Andre Morrison, MacKinnon and the Hawks posted seven shutouts last season while holding their opponents to a 0.97 goals-against average.

Eleven new faces will be making their Hartford debuts in 2015. Of those newcomers, nine join the roster as true freshmen.

Poitras has put together one of the most challenging non-conference slates in recent years as over half (5) of the team's nine opponents are coming off 2014 campaigns that featured 10-plus victories. Three of those opponents (Monmouth, Old Dominion, and Syracuse) participated in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. The campaign kicks off at home on Friday, August 28, as the Hawks host Holy Cross at 7 p.m.

UMBC, which is coming off back-to-back America East Championship seasons, is the only other squad representing the league on the list. The Retrievers will start the season ranked 12th in the NSCAA preseason poll, as it compiled 356 total points after making a run to the NCAA College Cup's Final Four.